Lowrance Electronics, longtime sponsor of BASS and the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, awarded $16,800 in merchandise certificates and $12,500 in cash to participating state chapters during the presidents' meetings at the recent B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship.

$139,000 was paid out to state chapters and individual members in 2008, courtesy of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Alliance presented by Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Lowrance Electronics and Optima Batteries.

Water resources shared by the United States and Canada are now protected by law under the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, an international agreement that creates a management partnership between the two countries.